Apparatus for folding and storing articles of clothing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for folding and storing articles of clothing is provided, and the apparatus comprises a relatively flat sheet having opposing ends, a topside and a bottomside. The apparatus has at least one aperture that serves as a handle on one end and an extended portion on the opposing end. The extended portion is bendable from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, and the extended portion serves as a support for the articles of clothing when the articles are folded and stacked atop the topside surface of the sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus for folding and storing articles ofclothing, the apparatus comprises a relatively flat sheet havingopposing ends, a topside and a bottomside. The apparatus has at leastone aperture that serves as a handle on one end and an extended portionon the opposing end. The extended portion is bendable from about 0degrees to about 90 degrees, and the extended portion serves as asupport for the articles of clothing when the articles are folded andstacked atop the topside surface of the sheet.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are various devices used for folding articles of clothing such asthe device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,151. There are also variousproducts that are used to storing and dividing articles of clothing suchas the products shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,657,551; 2,169,552; and4,065,021. There are numerous apparati designed to store and stackarticles of clothing such as the U.S. Pat. Nos. D501,341; D502,031 andD505,809.

The present invention relates to a device or apparatus that allows itsuser to fold, stack, store and/or divide articles of clothing. Thedevice and apparatus of the present invention provides for a system forfolding, stacking and storing a plurality of articles of clothing andallows for a system that allows a user to remove one of the articles ofclothing in the stacked pile to be removed without disturbing the otherarticles of clothing in the pile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides for an apparatus forfolding and storing articles of clothing, the apparatus comprises: arelatively flat sheet having opposing ends, a topside and a bottomside,the apparatus has at least one aperture that serves as a handle on oneend and an extended portion on the opposing end, the extended portion isbendable from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, the extended portionserves as a support for the articles of clothing when the articles arefolded and stacked atop said topside surface of the sheet.

In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a plurality ofprotrusions, the protrusions are designed to contact the articles ofclothing when stacked and folded on the sheet. In still anotherembodiment, at least a portion of the protrusions are attached to thesheet.

In yet another embodiment, the plurality of the protrusions are attachedto the topside of the sheet. In still yet another embodiment, theplurality of the protrusions are attached to the bottomside of thesheet. In a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises afrontal extension and the aperture is situated within the frontalextension. In another further embodiment, the end with said aperture isarc shaped. In yet a further embodiment, the aperture is grip-shaped. Instill a further embodiment, the protrusions function as grips to thearticle of clothing folding and situated upon the sheet.

In still yet a further embodiment, the sheet is capable of holding atleast three folded and stacked articles of clothing and the user canpull out the second article of clothing between the first article whichis situated atop the sheet and the third article without disturbing thefirst and third article of clothing, and the protrusions are designed togrip and secure the first article of clothing when user is pulling outthe second article of clothing.

In another embodiment, the extended portion is bendable to a positionrelatively perpendicular to the sheet during a use stage and bendable toa position relatively parallel to the sheet during a stowage stage.

In still another embodiment, the present invention provides for anapparatus for folding and storing articles of clothing, and theapparatus comprising: a relatively flat sheet having a front end and aback end, a topside and a bottomside, the apparatus having at least oneaperture that serves as a handle on the front end and an extendedportion on the back end, the extended portion being bendable from about0 degrees to about 90 degrees, the extended portion being a cut away andhaving a dimension shorter than the width of the sheet, and the extendedportion serves as a support for the articles of clothing when thearticles are folded and stacked atop the topside surface of the sheet.

In yet another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a pluralityof protrusions, and the protrusion are designed to contact the articlesof clothing when stacked and folded on the sheet, and at least a portionof the protrusions being attached to the sheet. In still anotherembodiment, the plurality of the protrusions are attached to the topsideof the sheet. In still yet another embodiment, the protrusions functionas grips to the article of clothing folding and situated upon the sheet.

In a further embodiment, the sheet is capable of holding at least threefolded and stacked articles of clothing and the user can pull out thesecond article of clothing between the first article which is situatedatop said sheet and the third article without disturbing the first andthird article of clothing, said protrusions designed to grip and securethe first article of clothing when user is pulling out the secondarticle of clothing.

In another further embodiment, the extended portion is bendable to aposition relatively perpendicular to the sheet during a use stage andbendable to a position relatively parallel to the sheet during a stowagestage.

In yet a further embodiment, the front end with the aperture isgrip-shaped. In still a further embodiment, the extended portion hasfour sides, and a first side is connected to the sheet, at least aportion of two of the sides situated adjacent to the first side arerelatively perpendicular to the sheet during a usage stage andrelatively parallel to the sheet during a non-use stage.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus forfolding and storing articles of clothing, and the apparatus comprises: arelatively flat sheet having a front end and a back end, a topside and abottomside, the apparatus having at least one aperture that serves as ahandle on the front end and an adjustable clothing support and separatordevice, and the device comprises an elongated portion having opposingends and at least one adjustable separator, a first end of the elongatedportion being connected to the back end of sheet, and the elongatedportion serves as a support for the articles of clothing when thearticles are folded and stacked atop the topside surface of the sheet.

In yet another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a pluralityof protrusions, and the protrusions are designed to contact the articlesof clothing when stacked and folded on the sheet, and at least a portionof the protrusions are attached to the sheet. In still anotherembodiment, the elongated portion of the support and separator device isrelatively perpendicular to the sheet and the separator are relativelyperpendicular to the elongated portion and relatively parallel to thesheet during a use stage. In still yet another embodiment, the separatoris designed to support and separate the articles of clothing situatedatop the sheet and the device further comprises a locking mechanism forsecuring the separator to a certain position on the elongated portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporatedin and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or moreembodiments of the present invention, and together with the description,serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 with three articles of clothing in use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3 with the extended portion in use withthe articles of clothing;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5 in use with articles of clothing.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, otherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification andinclude exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustratevarious objects and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousforms. The figures are not necessary to scale, some features may beexaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, the present invention provides for anapparatus 1 for folding and storing articles of clothing, the apparatus1 comprises: a relatively flat sheet 10 having opposing ends, 10 a and10 b respectively, a topside 11 and a bottomside 12. The apparatus 1 hasat least one aperture 13 that serves as a handle on one end 10 a and anextended portion 14 on the opposing end 10 b. The extended portion 14 isbendable from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees and the extendedportion 14 serves as a support for the articles of clothing 17, 18 and19 respectively, when the articles are folded and stacked atop saidtopside surface 11 of the sheet 10.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a plurality of protrusions 15. Theprotrusions 15 are designed to contact the article of clothing 17 whenstacked and folded on the sheet. In another embodiment, at least aportion of the protrusions 15 are attached to the sheet 10.

In yet another embodiment, the plurality of the protrusions 15 areattached to the topside 11 of the sheet 10. In still yet anotherembodiment, the plurality of the protrusions 15 are attached to thebottomside 12 of the sheet 10 (not shown). In a further embodiment, theapparatus 1 further comprises a frontal extension 16 and the aperture 13is situated within the frontal extension 16. In another furtherembodiment, the front end 10 a with the aperture 13 is arc shaped. Inyet a further embodiment, the aperture 13 is grip-shaped (see FIG. 4).In still a further embodiment, the protrusions 15 function as grips tothe article of clothing folding and situated upon the sheet 10.

In still yet a further embodiment, the sheet 10 is capable of holding atleast three folded and stacked articles of clothing 17, 18 and 19 andthe user can pull out the second article of clothing 18 between thefirst article 17 which is situated atop the sheet 10 and the thirdarticle 19 without disturbing the first and third article of clothing 17and 19, and the protrusions 15 are designed to grip and secure the firstarticle of clothing 17 when user is pulling out the second article ofclothing 18.

In another embodiment, the extended portion 14 is bendable to a positionrelatively perpendicular to the sheet 10 during a use stage and bendableto a position relatively parallel to the sheet 10 during a stowagestage.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, the present invention provides for anapparatus 2 for folding and storing articles of clothing, and theapparatus 2 comprising: a relatively flat sheet 20 having a front end 20a and a back end 20 b, a topside 21 and a bottomside 22. The apparatus 2has at least one aperture 23 that serves as a handle on the front end 20a and an extended portion 24 on the back end 10 b. The extended portion24 is bendable from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, and theextended portion 24 is a cut away and having a dimension shorter thanthe width of the sheet, and the extended portion 24 serves as a supportfor the articles of clothing 27, 28 and 29 respectively, when thearticles are folded and stacked atop the topside 21 surface of the sheet20.

The apparatus 2 further comprises a plurality of protrusions 25, and theprotrusions 25 are designed to contact the articles of clothing whenstacked and folded on the sheet 20, and at least a portion of theprotrusions 25 are attached to the sheet 20. In still anotherembodiment, the plurality of the protrusions 25 are attached to thetopside 21 of the sheet 20. In still yet another embodiment, theprotrusions 25 function as grips to the article of clothing folding andsituated upon the sheet 20.

In a further embodiment, the sheet 20 is capable of holding at leastthree folded and stacked articles of clothing 27, 28 and 29respectively, and the user can pull out the second article of clothing28 between the first article 27 which is situated atop the sheet 20 andthe third article 29 without disturbing the first and third article ofclothing 27 and 29. The protrusions 25 are designed to grip and securethe first article of clothing 27 when user is pulling out the secondarticle of clothing 28.

In another further embodiment, the extended portion 24 is bendable to aposition relatively perpendicular to the sheet 20 during a use stage andbendable to a position relatively parallel to the sheet 20 during astowage stage.

In yet a further embodiment, the front end 26 with the aperture isgrip-shaped. In still a further embodiment, the extended portion 24 hasfour sides, and a first side is connected to the sheet 20, at least aportion of two of the sides situated adjacent to the first side arerelatively perpendicular to the sheet 20 during a usage stage andrelatively parallel to the sheet 20 during a non-use stage.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, the present invention provides for anapparatus 3 for folding and storing articles of clothing. The apparatus3 comprises: a relatively flat sheet 30 having a front end 30 a and aback end 30 b, a topside 31 and a bottomside 32. The apparatus 3 havingat least one aperture 33 that serves as a handle on the front end 36 andan adjustable clothing support and separator device 40.

The device 40 comprises an elongated portion 41 having opposing ends 41a and 41 b respectively, and at least one adjustable separator 42. Thefirst end 41 a of the elongated portion 41 is connected to the back end30 b of sheet 30, and the elongated portion 42 serves as a support forthe articles of clothing 37, 38 and 39 respectively when the articlesare folded and stacked atop the topside 31 surface of the sheet 30.

In yet another embodiment, the apparatus 3 further comprises a pluralityof protrusions 35, and the protrusions 35 are designed to contact thearticles of clothing when stacked and folded on the sheet 30, and atleast a portion of the protrusions 35 are attached to the sheet 30. Instill another embodiment, the elongated portion 41 of the support andseparator device 42 is relatively perpendicular to the sheet 30 and theseparator 42 are relatively perpendicular to the elongated portion 41and relatively parallel to the sheet 30 during a use stage. In still yetanother embodiment, the separator 42 is designed to support and separatethe articles of clothing situated atop the sheet 30 and the device 3further comprises a locking mechanism (not shown) for securing theseparator 42 to a certain position on the elongated portion 41 of thedevice 40.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the attendant claims attachedhereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydisclosed herein.

1. An apparatus for folding and storing articles of clothing, saidapparatus comprising: a relatively flat sheet having opposing ends, atopside and a bottomside, said apparatus having at least one aperturethat serves as a handle on one end and an extended portion on saidopposing end, said extended portion being bendable from about 0 degreesto about 90 degrees, said extended portion serves as a support for thearticles of clothing when the articles are folded and stacked atop saidtopside surface of said sheet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprises a plurality of protrusions, said protrusions are designed tocontact the articles of clothing when stacked and folded on said sheet,at least a portion of said protrusions being attached to said sheet. 3.The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of said protrusions areattached to said topside of said sheet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2wherein said plurality of said protrusions are attached to saidbottomside of said sheet.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprisinga frontal extension, said aperture being situated within said frontalextension.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end with saidaperture is arc shaped.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidaperture is grip-shaped.
 8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein saidprotrusions function as grips to the article of clothing folding andsituated upon said sheet.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said sheetis capable of holding at least three folded and stacked articles ofclothing and the user can pull out the second article of clothingbetween the first article which is situated atop said sheet and thethird article without disturbing the first and third article ofclothing, said protrusions designed to grip and secure the first articleof clothing when user is pulling out the second article of clothing. 10.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said extended portion is bendable to aposition relatively perpendicular to said sheet during a use stage andbendable to a position relatively parallel to said sheet during astowage stage.
 11. An apparatus for folding and storing articles ofclothing, said apparatus comprising: a relatively flat sheet having afront end and a back end, a topside and a bottomside, said apparatushaving at least one aperture that serves as a handle on said front endand an extended portion on said back end, said extended portion beingbendable from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, said extended portionbeing a cut away and having a dimension shorter than the width of saidsheet, said extended portion serves as a support for the articles ofclothing when the articles are folded and stacked atop said topsidesurface of said sheet.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprises aplurality of protrusions, said protrusions are designed to contact thearticles of clothing when stacked and folded on said sheet, at least aportion of said protrusions being attached to said sheet.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein said plurality of said protrusions areattached to said topside of said sheet.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12wherein said protrusions function as grips to the article of clothingfolding and situated upon said sheet.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said sheet is capable of holding at least three folded andstacked articles of clothing and the user can pull out the secondarticle of clothing between the first article which is situated atopsaid sheet and the third article without disturbing the first and thirdarticle of clothing, said protrusions designed to grip and secure thefirst article of clothing when user is pulling out the second article ofclothing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said extended portionhas four sides, a first side is connected to said sheet, at least aportion of two of said sides situated adjacent to said first side arerelatively perpendicular to said sheet during a usage stage andrelatively parallel to said sheet during a non-use stage.
 17. Anapparatus for folding and storing articles of clothing, said apparatuscomprising: a relatively flat sheet having a front end and a back end, atopside and a bottomside, said apparatus having at least one aperturethat serves as a handle on said front end and an adjustable clothingsupport and separator device, said device comprises an elongated portionhaving opposing ends and at least one adjustable separator, a first endof said elongated portion being connected to said back end of sheet,said elongated portion serves as a support for the articles of clothingwhen the articles are folded and stacked atop said topside surface ofsaid sheet.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprises a pluralityof protrusions, said protrusion are designed to contact the articles ofclothing when stacked and folded on said sheet, at least a portion ofsaid protrusions being attached to said sheet.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 17 wherein said elongated portion of said support and separatordevice is relatively perpendicular to said sheet and said separatorbeing relatively perpendicular to said elongated portion and relativelyparallel to said sheet during a use stage.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17wherein said separator is designed to support and separate the articlesof clothing situated atop said sheet and said device further comprises alocking mechanism for securing said separator to a certain position onsaid elongated portion.